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By Martha McHardy
US News Reporter
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Kilmar Abrego Garcia could be deported to Uganda, the Associated Press reported on Saturday, citing a court filing.
The Salvadoran man, who was mistakenly sent to the high-security CECOT prison in El Salvador by the Trump administration in March, was returned to the United States in June following a lengthy court battle to face the human smuggling charges tied to a 2022 traffic stop in Tennessee.
He was then held in pre-trial detention in Tennessee from which he was released on Friday.
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Following his release, his attorneys were sent a court-required notice of his potential deportation to Uganda, a Department of Homeland Security (DHS) official told CBS News. He declined an offer to be sent to Costa Rica, which offered to receive him, so officials have turned to Uganda, which has agreed to receive deportees although preferably "individuals from African countries."
Newsweek has contacted the DHS for comment via email.
Why It Matters
The Trump administration has argued that, despite the administrative error that led to Abrego Garcia's deportation, he should be removed from the U.S. anyway because of alleged ties to the MS-13 criminal gang and human trafficking charges.
His case was among several challenges brought against the use of the Alien Enemies Act of 1798 to rapidly send immigrants to the Salvadoran prison.
What To Know
The notice informed Abrego Garcia that he may be deported to the East African country "no earlier than 72 hours from now," not including weekends.
DHS notified Abrego Garcia that he should report to immigration authorities on Monday, but the court filing only mentioned that he had declined one part of the government's offer, which was to remain in jail. His attorneys will "communicate the government's proposal" in the meantime.
Uganda has agreed to a U.S. request to accept deportees who are not its citizens, making it the latest "third country" to strike a deportation agreement with the second Trump administration.
"This is a temporary arrangement with conditions including that individuals with criminal records and unaccompanied minors will not be accepted," Bagiire Vincent Waiswa, permanent secretary to the Ugandan foreign ministry, said in a statement.
"Uganda also prefers that individuals from African countries shall be the ones transferred to Uganda. The two parties are working out the detailed modalities on how the agreement shall be implemented."
Costa Rica has also signed a similar arrangement, ABC News reported.
"The Government of Costa Rica presents its compliments to the Embassy of the United States of American in San José, and wishes to express its willingness to accept the transfer from the United States to Costa Rica of Mr. Kilmar Armando Abrego Garcia upon the conclusion of any criminal sentence he may serve in the United States of America," Mario Zamora Cordero, Costa Rica's minister of governance, police and public security, wrote in a letter to the U.S. Embassy.
Abrego Garcia has not been convicted of any charges, and his human smuggling trial is scheduled to begin on January 27, 2027. The Trump administration has alleged that he is a member of the Salvadoran MS-13 gang, which his lawyers deny.
In 2019, an immigration judge barred his deportation to El Salvador, citing credible fears of persecution by local gangs. Despite that order, he was deported there due to what ICE later admitted was an "administrative error."
Abrego Garcia has said he intends to return to Maryland, where he lived with his family prior to his March deportation. Last month, Maryland-based U.S. District Judge Paula Xinis ruled that the government must give him 72 hours' notice before initiating deportation but emphasized that immigration agents "may take whatever action is available to them under the law."
Abrego Garcia has no U.S. criminal record beyond minor traffic violations and had regularly checked in with immigration authorities before his removal.
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What People Are Saying
Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem, in a statement to Newsweek on Friday: "Activist liberal judges have attempted to obstruct our law enforcement every step of the way in removing the worst of the worst criminal illegal aliens from our country. Today, we reached a new low with this publicity hungry Maryland judge mandating this illegal alien who is a MS-13 gang member, human trafficker, serial domestic abuser, and child predator be allowed free.
"By ordering this monster loose on America's streets, this judge has shown a complete disregard for the safety of the American people. We will not stop fighting till this Salvadoran man faces justice and is OUT of our country."
U.S. Democratic Maryland Senator Chris Van Hollen, in a statement shared with Newsweek: "Despite the Trump Administration's relentless efforts to defy our Constitution, our legal system has worked its will and is upholding Kilmar Abrego Garcia's right to due process. Following the court's ruling, I'm glad that he is being returned to his home and his family, where he rightly belongs.
"While I have no doubt the Administration will continue its attempts to undermine Mr. Abrego Garcia's rights, we will continue fighting to see them maintained – because due process in this case does not end with his release. Mr. Abrego Garcia must continue to be allowed to defend himself in court, where the Trump Administration must make its case before taking any further action against him. This is a matter that's greater than just this one case or one man – if one person's rights are denied, then the rights of all of us are at risk."
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt, in a statement to Newsweek in June: "Abrego Garcia was never an innocent 'Maryland Man'– Abrego Garcia is an illegal alien terrorist, gang member, and human trafficker who has spent his entire life abusing innocent people, especially women and the most vulnerable. Abrego Garcia will now return to the United States to answer for his crimes and meet the full force of American justice."
What Happens Next?
Abrego Garcia's attorneys will likely fight the court order.
Update 8/23/25, 12:48 p.m. ET: This article has been updated with additional information.
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